Elephant Festival Jaipur - Rajasthan,India

The Elephant Festival is an annual event held every year at Jaipur the capital city of Rajasthan. The Elephant Festival Jaipur is organised according to the Indian calendar on the full moon day of Phalgun Purnima (February/March), this day also coincides with day of Holika Dahan, just a day before Dulendhi, when the Indian festival of colour and joy Holi is celebrated all over India turning cities and towns into a riot of colour, fun and frolic.If you are planning to visit India, are slightly adventurous and keen to experience and explore various aspects of India, this could indeed be a perfect time. The weather is balmy and the light good for photography.

Elephants have always held an important place in the Indian society, Lord Ganesha , the Hindu deity with the head of an elephant is greatly revered and is the lord master of all ceremonies and happy beginnings. Elephants are part of many major religious ceremonies, processions and even marriage ceremonies, all primarily ceremonial roles as the era of the war elephant is now long over.

As the name suggests elephants are the centre of attraction at the Elephant Festival Jaipur. Pachyderms are washed, painted and groomed in all finery by their loving grooms or Mahouts as they are called in India. Elephants are specially decorated for the elephant festival, with chunky elephant jewellery, large anklets decked with bells grace their feet, their bodies are painted with traditional Indian motifs, gold embroidered velvet rugs grace their backs along with silver and gold plated Howdahs and gold embroidered velvet parasol’s . The large ears of the elephants are adorned with ear danglers and brightly coloured brocade scarfs. Even their tusks are ringed with gold and silver bracelets and rings. Richly embellished head-plates adorn the Elephants foreheads. The mahouts are also all dressed up in their brocade jackets and bright coloured Safa’s or turbans. At the Jaipur Elephant festival there is a prize for the best decorated Elephant and its Mahout.

The Elephant Festival Jaipur offers the perfect opportunity to see these royal and regal creatures in all their splendor as they parade before you to the beating of the Nagara and the blowing of the Bankiya, followed by rows of decked up camels, horses with lanced Riders, Horse drawn chariots, cannon carts and porters carrying palanquins followed by performances of the folk dancers all creating a scene reminiscent of the past and celebrating the Majesty of the Elephant and the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan.

The Jaipur Elephant festival is organized by Rajasthan Tourism and is now a part of its annual event’s calendar. Earlier the Elephant Festival was organized at the Chaugan Stadium in the walled old city area of Jaipur however due to the increased popularity of the event and the large crowds it attracts now the venue since 2011 has been shifted to the Jaipur Polo grounds near the Rambagh Hotel opposite the Sawai Man Singh Stadium.

At the Elephant Festival the elephants are dressed in all finery and paraded for being judged as the best decorated Elephant at the festival. The Elephant Festival Jaipur provides the best opportunity to watch these stately Giants in all their finery.

• The next Elephant Festival at Jaipur is scheduled to be held on 05 March 2015. The official Programme will be confirmed by Rajasthan Tourism.

Besides the Jaipur Elephant Festival India also hosts another elephant festival in South India at Thrissur in the coastal state of Kerala. The Kerala Elephant Festival occurs every year between the months of April-May.